Republic of Uganda

THE UGANDA FORESTRY POLICY

Ministry of Water, Lands and Environment
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
 Table of Contents
Foreword 2. Guiding Principles for the Forest Sector........................................................................13

Acronyms 3. Forestry Policy Statements ..........................................................................................15

Glossary Policy Statement 1: on forestry on government land ......................................................15

1. Background to the Forestry Policy ................................................................................1 Policy Statement 2: on forestry on private land..............................................................16

1.1 The need for a new forestry policy ....................................................................1 Policy Statement 3: on commercial forest plantations ....................................................17

1.2 Opportunities and constraints in the forest sector ................................................2 Policy Statement 4: on forest products processing industries ..........................................17

1.2.1 The status of Uganda’s forest resources ..............................................................2 Policy Statement 5: on collaborative forest management ................................................18

1.2.2 Factors in the decline of the forest resource base ................................................3 Policy Statement 6: on farm forestry ............................................................................19

1.2.3 Forestry in the wider economy ..........................................................................3 Policy Statement 7: on the conservation of forest biodiversity ........................................20

1.2.4 Wood industries ................................................................................................4 Policy Statement 8: on watershed management and soil conservation ............................20

1.2.5 Forests in rural livelihoods..................................................................................5 Policy Statement 9: on urban forestry ..........................................................................21

1.2.6 Conservation of biodiversity and environmental services ......................................5 Policy Statement 10: on education, training and research ..............................................22

1.2.7 Urban forestry ..................................................................................................6 Policy Statement 11: on supply of tree seed and planting stock ......................................22

1.2.8 Land and tree tenure ........................................................................................7 4. Support for implementing the Forestry Policy ..............................................................25

1.2.9 Sector co-ordination ..........................................................................................8 A - Sector-wide Planning ............................................................................................25

1.2.10 Public sector reform ..........................................................................................9 B - Sector Investment ..................................................................................................25

1.2.11 The role of local government ..............................................................................9 C - Sector Co-ordination..............................................................................................25

1.2.12 The role of the commercial private sector ..........................................................10 D - Institutional Reform ................................................................................................26

1.2.13 The role of local forest communities ..................................................................10 E - Forestry Legislation ................................................................................................27

1.2.14 The role of NGOs and CBOs ..........................................................................10 F - Gender and Equity ................................................................................................28

1.2.15 Forestry extension and advisory services ..........................................................11 G - International and regional co-operation..................................................................28

1.2.16 Education, training and research......................................................................12 H - Sector Monitoring and Evaluation ..........................................................................29

1.2.17 Policy harmonisation ......................................................................................12

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)

Foreword
THROUGH A COUNTRYWIDE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS,
UGANDANS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, POLITICAL PERSUASIONS,
RELIGIONS AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS AGREED ON A
COLLECTIVE VISION FOR THE COUNTRY. THE VISION 2025 OF
UGANDANS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY IS THAT OF A
“Prosperous People, Harmonious Nation,
Beautiful Country”.
The new Forestry Policy, therefore, must address the issues of poverty eradication, prosperity,
harmony and beauty.
Uganda's forest resources are ideally suited to contribute to poverty eradication, wealth creation
and the modernisation of the country. There is an urgent need to green Uganda by establishing
new forest resources and rehabilitating degraded areas.
Maintaining forest cover will help to conserve biodiversity and provide vital ecological services,
such as soil and water protection. By addressing the ways that forestry can benefit people
throughout Uganda, the government is fostering a common interest in its development, and a
sense of inclusion across all groups and localities.
There is a vision for Uganda's forests of the future. There will be sustainably managed forests,
woodlands and trees, providing ecological and social services, producing economic goods for
present and future generations of Ugandans, and making a contribution to the global community.
There will be a wider range of types of ownership, access and management of forest resources
- this will involve government, local communities, the private sector and non-governmental
organisations. This vision has been drawn up from wide stakeholder consultations, and is
consistent with the national vision for Uganda.
The VISION for Uganda's Forests
A SUFFICIENTLY FORESTED, ECOLOGICALLY STABLE AND
ECONOMICALLY PROSPEROUS UGANDA
The new Forestry Policy has been developed to give fresh political direction to this vision.
The Forestry Policy is built up from the following elements. Firstly, it has been approached from
the point of view of the major interested parties in the sector and addresses their needs.
Secondly, a clear and wide definition of the forest sector is given, so that this becomes an
inclusive and sector-wide policy. Thirdly, it is based on a review of the experience, history and
status of the resource itself, to ensure its wise use for economic development, poverty alleviation
and environmental stability.
The process of developing the policy has included a very wide range of interested parties, through
a lengthy consultation process with key agencies, organisations and individuals at national,
district and local levels. Initially, views were collected during 1996 - 1997 through the consultative
processes of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) and the Intergovernmental Forum on
Forests (IFF) on behalf of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). These processes
were formalised into a discussion draft presented to various groups, including the Consultative
Conference on Uganda's Forests held in September 1999, which included among others
participation by members of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources.
Following this, consultations on the draft policy were held with almost every District in Uganda,
through 4 regional workshops attended by over 1200 people in Mukono (central), Mbarara
(western), Lira (northern) and Mbale (eastern). These workshops included politicians,
administrators, technicians, NGOs, researchers, large and small-scale farmers, and other
sector stakeholders
In addition to the regional workshops, written comments were received from many organisations,
including central and local government and religious, traditional, research, training and
international, national and local non-government organisations.
The process and the drafting was guided formally by a Policy Working Group, whose
membership included all key government Ministries and representatives from non-government
and civil society organisations.
I believe that the resulting policy addresses the needs of all those involved in the forest sector,
and provides a truly sector-wide perspective on the way forward for the development of forestry
in Uganda.
Henry Muganwa Kajura
MINISTER OF WATER, LANDS & ENVIRONMENT
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
Acronyms Glossary
CBO Community-based organisation Civil Society is Forest certification Government land Sustainable forest
defined by the Civil is the process of includes all gazetted management is the
FD Forestry Department Society Task Force verification by a land held in trust by management of
as covering all body of proven government for the forest resources so
FORRI Forest Resource Research Institute organisations other independence that people of Uganda as to supply goods
than government. the management of (e.g. Forest and services to
FSUP Forest Sector Umbrella Programme a forest has reached Reserves, National satisfy the needs of
Collaborative forest a specified standard. Parks, Wildlife present and future
NARO National Agricultural Research Organisation management means This enables the Reserves). generations in
that local preferential purchase perpetuity.
NEMA National Environment Management Authority communities are of products from, or Permanent Forest
genuinely involved investment in, such Estate is defined as
NFA National Forestry Authority in the management certified well land that is set aside
of the forest resource managed forests by for forestry activities
NGO Non-governmental organisation through a negotiated consumers, investors, in perpetuity.
process in which or others providing
PEAP Poverty Eradication Action Plan rights, roles, incentives. Private land
responsibilities and includes all non-
PFE Permanent Forest Estate returns for the Forestry includes all gazetted land
sustainable activities related to owned under mailo,
PMA Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture management of such forests, tree growing, freehold, leasehold
forest resources are forest produce, and customary land
UWA Uganda Wildlife Authority shared. forest conservation, tenure.
forest management
Farm forestry is the and forest utilisation. Protected Areas are
growing of trees as all land gazetted
part of an integrated Forests include all and held in trust by
farming system. alpine, tropical high government, such as
and medium altitude Forest Reserves,
Farmer innovators forests, woodlands, National Parks and
are farmers who wetland and riparian Wildlife Reserves.
spontaneously forests, plantations
initiate and and trees, whether Reserved forests are
experimentally test on land held in trust forests growing on
different agricultural by government government land.
practices in the field. (gazetted Forest
Reserves, National
Parks and Wildlife
Reserves) or non-
gazetted land
(mailo, leasehold,
freehold or
customary lands).

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
1.Background to the Forestry Policy
1.1 THE NEED FOR A NEW FORESTRY POLICY
Existing policy: Uganda's first forestry policy was written in 1929.
Forestry policy has undergone a series of changes since then,
alternating between stricter conservation on the one hand and more
liberal economic use of forest resources on the other hand. The last
policy review was in 1988, but this contained limited guidance on
principles and strategies for implementation, on forestry outside the
gazetted reserves, and on the balance between production and
conservation. It was also silent on the roles of government, the private
sector and rural communities in forestry, and the linkages with other
sectors and land uses.
Current concerns: there is increasing concern about the deteriorating
state of forestry in the country. Natural forest cover is receding;
ecological services are declining; there is increasing pressure on forest
land and increasing demand on forest products; management capacity
is limited and institutional weaknesses constrain development.
Wider policy and legal changes: there have been a number of recent
national and international commitments that affect forestry. National
policies and laws have been introduced to change environmental and
governance practices (Box 1), and the government has signed
international obligations to new conservation and trade practices
(Box 2).
National development initiatives: there are a number of significant
new development initiatives currently under way, which are relevant to
the forest sector. The government has launched a programme of public
sector reform, which aims to divest a number of central government
departments, including the Forestry Department. Civic and political
administration has been decentralised to District Councils, including
some aspects of forest management. Sector wide planning approaches
have been developed. The Poverty Eradication Action Programme
(PEAP, 1997) sets out a broad strategy for poverty eradication in
Uganda, and within this the Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture
(PMA, 2000) provides a holistic framework for eradicating poverty
through multi-sectoral interventions that enable people to improve their
livelihoods in a sustainable manner. The PMA includes forestry as one
of the main sectors that contribute to the livelihoods of poor people,
along with agriculture, fisheries and livestock.
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
Importance of forestry: the government recognises that Uganda's
forests and woodlands are central to the three pillars of sustainable Box 1
development - the economy, society and the environment - and that the RECENT KEY NATIONAL POLICY
sector is not being given adequate priority. The country's forest resources AND LEGAL CHANGES AFFECTING
provide energy, forest and tree products, employment, livelihoods THE FOREST SECTOR
support, government revenues, business opportunities, environmental Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995
functions and services, and they maintain ecological integrity.
The National Environment Management Policy
for Uganda, 1994
Diversity of stakeholders: the government also recognises that a very
wide range of people have a stake in the forest sector, people whose The National Environment Statute, 1995
interests are not being fully addressed, and whose roles and The Water Statute, 1995
responsibilities need to be defined and co-ordinated. The many
The National Policy for the Conservation and
interested parties include:
Management of Wetland Resources, 1995
* forest resource producers (farmers, commercial tree growers and The Uganda Wildlife Statute, 1996
forest owners); The Local Governments Act, 1997
The Land Act, 1998
* forest resource users (both commercial consumers, and the majority
of the urban and rural poor who depend on firewood and other The Gender Policy, 1997
forest products for subsistence); The Forest Reserves Order, 1998
The Uganda Wildlife Policy, 1999
* forest resource processors (charcoal makers, pitsawyers, sawmillers,
artisans and traders); The National Water Policy, 1999
* the concerned general public;
* government and non government organisations and individuals Box 2
involved In providing services of management, training, research KEY INTERNATIONAL
and support. OBLIGATIONS WHICH AFFECT
THE FOREST SECTOR
Conclusion Given these concerns and wider changes, and given the The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 1971
importance of forestry for the country and its people, this Forestry Policy
The Convention for the Protection of World
now provides new directions for the sustainable development of the
Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972
forest sector. To respond to the changing context, the government has
launched the Forest Sector Umbrella Programme (FSUP, 1999), a sector The Convention on International Trade in
wide initiative to reform the forest sector through policy, legal and Endangered Species, 1973
institutional changes. The new policy forms part of this process, and The Bonn Convention on Migratory Species, 1979
FSUP will support the implementation of the policy with a review of the
Agenda 21, 1992
sector's legal framework, the development of a National Forest Plan,
the reform of key institutions and the implementation of a new sector The International Convention on Biological
co-ordination framework. Diversity, 1992
The Convention to Combat Desertification, 1994
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1.2 OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS IN THE FOREST SECTOR The remaining 70% of forested land includes the large areas of forest and woodland that grow
on private or customary land (Table 1). These are not part of the PFE, as there is no formal policy
1.2.1 THE STATUS OF UGANDA'S FOREST RESOURCES that determines forestry as a land use on private or customary lands.

National forest cover: Forests and woodlands cover approximately 4.9 million hectares in
Uganda, about 24% of the total land area. The vast majority of this is woodland, while the
remainder is tropical high forest and forestry plantations (Figure 1, Table 1).
The Permanent Forest Estate: about 1.9 million hectares is currently included in the Permanent
Forest Estate (PFE). This includes all Forest Reserve land and all forested areas in the National
Parks and Wildlife Reserves (Table 1). The PFE represents about 9% of the total land area of
Uganda. These areas are set aside permanently for the conservation of biodiversity, the
protection of environmental services, and the sustainable production of domestic and commercial
forest produce. Half of the PFE is made up of the gazetted Central and Local Forest Reserves,
land that is held in trust and managed by the Forestry Department and Local Authorities. The
other half includes the forested areas of National Parks and Wildlife Reserves, land held in trust
and managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (hereafter referred to as government land)
(Figure 2).
From 1934 to the early 1970s, the PFE was well managed by the Forestry Department under
carefully prepared forest management plans. This led to an enviable international reputation for
some of the best forest management practices in tropical forestry. However, in recent years the
Forestry Department has been unable to maintain this position.
Decline in forest resources: the trend in Uganda is one of loss of forest cover and degradation
of the remaining forest resource base:
* in tropical high forest, about 280,000 hectares is now degraded, representing at least a third
of the country's valuable high forest;
* in woodlands, the degradation and clearance is more marked, as most of the current loss of
forest cover is in woodland areas;
* in the government Forest Reserves, which cover over 1.1 million hectares, there is less than
740,000 hectares of forest cover, a loss of 35% of forest cover. Of the 20,000 hectares of
timber plantations planted on this government land, as little as 6,000 hectares of well-stocked
softwood plantations currently remain standing.
Key issues:
* how to maintain and enhance the Permanent Forest Estate;
* how to improve the management of forest resources on private and customary land.

Fig 1. Forest Cover in Uganda Fig 2. Management of Uganda’s Table 1. Approximate areas (in hectares) of forest and woodland under different
forested land categories of ownership and management

Government land Private land Total

Plantations 0.2%
Woodlands 19%
FD 15% Central and National Parks Private &
Local Forest and Wildlife customary
Reserves (FD & Reserves land
Tropical high
forest 5% UWA 15% Local Authority) (UWA)

Tropical High Forest 306,000 267,000 351,000 924,000

1Not forested Private 70% Woodlands 411,000 462,000 3,102,000 3,975,000
76% Plantations 20,000 2,000 11,000 33,000
1Includes farmland with scattered trees. Total forest 737,000 731,000 3,464,000 4,932,000
Other cover types 414,000 1,167,000 13,901,000 15,482,000
Total land 1,151,000 1,898,000 17,365,000 20,414,000

Source: National Biomass Study (Forestry Department, 1999)

2 The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)

1.2.2 FACTORS IN THE DECLINE OF THE FOREST RESOURCE BASE
Direct factors: many factors are directly influencing the loss of forest cover and the decline in
the forest resource base. These include forest clearance for agriculture, the over-harvesting and
degradation of forests, the encroachment of government reserves, and the degazetting of forest
reserves for alternative purposes:
Forest clearance: currently there are high rates of forest clearance on private lands, for
agriculture and charcoal production. This is now a serious threat, as 70% of Uganda's forest
cover is on private land, much of which is not regulated or managed. Population growth
(estimated at 2.5% per year) is leading to an increase in the demand for land, food and energy.
Institutions such as schools, prisons and others rely almost exclusively on firewood for cooking, as
does over 90% of the population. Many areas are already experiencing shortages of firewood,
and hence rising costs and increased burdens on women and children who collect firewood.
Over-harvesting: poor planning, weak regulation and inappropriate processing technology
have resulted in the unsustainable harvesting of forest products, and the degradation of the
resource base. It is estimated that 800,000 m3 of logs are cut each year, a rate of timber
harvesting that exceeds sustainable cutting levels by a factor of four. This comes from both
government and private land. There is limited institutional capacity and limited resources in both
central and local government to improve planning and regulation, and little incentive
for the private sector to improve its performance in the absence of firm regulation and
the enforcement of professional standards.
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
Encroachment: there was much clearance of forest cover during the settlements in the Forest
Reserves in the troubled 1970s and 1980s, and some residual encroachment of the government
lands still remains. Most of the boundaries of the encroached reserves have not been re-opened
and are not clearly demarcated, which is part of the reason for the current confusion.
Urbanisation and industrial growth: urbanisation and industrial growth are also putting
pressure on the forest estate. Many urban and peri-urban reserves are under threat of being
degazetted. The increasing demand for industrial land has led to the degazetting of nearly
10,000 ha, which will result in a permanent net reduction of the forest estate unless alternative
non-forested areas are identified and developed.
Underlying factors: a number of factors that underlies this decline in the forest resource base
can be identified. There are policy deficiencies relating to the private sector and local
communities over land tenure, access rights and responsibilities for resource management. There
are market failures, including inappropriate royalty rates, poor market information, trade
restrictions and hidden subsidies which distort the markets for forest products. There is poor
regulation by weakened institutions which lack funding and capacity. Population growth and
migration has increased demand for agricultural land and firewood energy, and rural poverty
restricts the ability to invest in sustainable land use practices.
Key issues:
* how to address the underlying causes of deforestation, including lack of policy support,
market failure, weak regulation and rural poverty.
1.2.3 FORESTRY IN THE WIDER ECONOMY
Forestry already makes a substantial contribution to the nation's economic development and
well-being, although the extent of this is not fully recognised. This suggests that there are many
opportunities for poverty alleviation, for economic development and for environmental
improvement through forest sector development.
Gross Domestic Product: the contribution of forestry to the nation's GDP was about 6% in 1999.
The current annual turnover of business in forestry is about UShs 356 billion, with a further
estimated annual value of UShs 112 billion attributed to environmental services.
Forest Products: over 90% of the national energy demand is met from wood fuels. About 18
million tonnes of firewood are consumed annually, and nearly 500,000 tonnes of charcoal.
Large volumes of timber are also used for construction, furniture-making and other manufacture,
estimated at 800,000 m3 per year. A further 875,000 m3 of poles are produced each year. The
value of non-timber products derived from forests such as medicines, craft materials and food
are also known to be significant.
3
Employment: The forest sector creates significant employment, probably the equivalent of nearly
one million jobs. Of these, perhaps 100,000 are in the formal sector, the majority in fuelwood
and charcoal production. In the informal sector, the majority of activity is in household fuelwood
production, but a significant amount of employment is found in commercial and industrial
fuelwood production.
Subsistence needs and agricultural production: A large proportion of the rural population of
Uganda depends on forest resources for basic subsistence needs, whether from farm forestry or
from natural forests and woodlands. These needs are for wood and non-wood forest products,
food security, agricultural productivity and cultural and spiritual values that depend on trees and
environmental services from forests and woodlands.
Environmental services and biodiversity: A significant contribution of the forest sector to the
economy of Uganda is the range of ecological services and biodiversity values the forests
provide. Although these services and values are not easily quantified, they are recognised as
integral to agricultural productivity, climate regulation, soil and water conservation and nutrient
recycling. Forests are also reservoirs of the country's biodiversity, including its unique genetic
resources and diverse ecosystems.
Tourism: much tourism in Uganda is based on forests, woodlands and their constituent wildlife
and natural beauty. Although as yet poorly developed, tourism contributes to economic and
social development, and to resource conservation. The Uganda Wildlife Authority revenues from
tourism are approximately UShs 2.7 billion annually. Over one third of this is derived from forest-
based mountain gorilla tourism.
Key issues:
* how to capitalise on the economic, social and environmental opportunities in forestry
without undermining the resource base.
1.2.4 WOOD INDUSTRIES
There is an active and highly competitive domestic market in wood products, particularly in the
construction and manufacturing sectors. With the current political stability and the growth in the
national economy, the demand for these products is expanding fast. Much of the timber comes
from the tropical high forest, and is extracted and processed by pitsawyers, although recently the
availability of timber from the softwood plantations has been increasing.
4 The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
However, various disincentives and market distortions are causing inefficiencies, an excessive
waste of resources and poor investment in the forest industries:
* there is wastage due to inefficient machinery, with conversion rates during processing as low
as 25%. Thus the current annual harvest of 800,000 m3 of logs produce only 200,000 m3 of
usable timber in the market;
* timber is currently undervalued. The historically low royalty rates charged on timber do not
reflect its full value in terms of the forest goods and services it represents. This has led to low
revenues for reinvestment in forest management, and weak incentives to improve efficiency
in processing;
* poor regulation has led to an increase in illegal harvesting that is undermining the legal
markets by distorting prices, and further reducing government revenues;
* profits made by private investors are switched to other sectors because of the low confidence
investors have in the forest sector. Serious investors are reluctant to commit funds when the
investment climate is risky, when administrative procedures are not transparent, and
concession allocation and tenure is so uncertain;
* the development of wood-based products through secondary and tertiary processing
remains low, thus reducing the economic opportunities and incentives to reduce
wood wastage.
Key issues:
* how to promote and regulate greater private sector involvement in forestry development,
and to create a more positive investment climate in the sector.

1.2.5 FORESTS IN RURAL LIVELIHOODS
Forests on both private and government lands are a key component of many rural livelihoods,
for both subsistence and commerce.
Private forest management: the owners of forested private land are guardians of 70% of
Uganda's forests and woodlands, which provide a rich source of wood and non-wood forest
products and services. However, much of the private forest is poorly managed or being converted
to agriculture or grazing land, with charcoal as a major by-product. Private forests are seen
largely as a land bank for cash and agriculture or grazing. The major constraints on the
sustainable management of private forests, which result in the continuing decline in private forest
cover in Uganda, are:
* the high value of alternative land uses such as grazing and agriculture;
* a lack information about markets and wood prices;
* a lack technical skills in forest management.
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
Farm forestry: Uganda is dominated by small-scale agriculture, where food production accounts
for over two thirds of agricultural production. Over 85% of the population of Uganda live in rural
areas where agriculture is the main contributor to livelihoods. Poor land husbandry practices
have resulted in food insecurity, low farm incomes and environmental degradation, including
deforestation. In many areas land productivity is declining, soil is eroding, and hill slopes
are degrading.
Farm forestry has good potential for improving soil productivity and water conservation and
providing multiple socio-economic benefits in almost all the farming systems in the country.
However, it is constrained by:
* poor basic tree growing techniques;
* information on market opportunities;
* lack of access to improved planting material;
* weak advisory services and farmer participation in planning.
Collaborative forest management: Where people live near the government forests, there is
typically a history of open-access use of these forest reserves, by individual farmers or local
residents who depend on these forests for wood and non-wood products. The government
administration finds it increasingly difficult to police and regulate this open access without
communal responsibility. New developments in collaborative forest management show that
organised communities can play a key role in natural forest management and conservation in
government forests, while substantially improving their livelihoods. However, this role is currently
weakened by a range of policy and institutional constraints:
* lack of tenure or security of access;
* a lack of involvement in decision-making about resource management;
* lack of capacity and organisation in communities and government agencies.
Key issues:
* how to encourage forest owners, farmers and local communities to improve their livelihoods
through new approaches to forestry.
1.2.6 CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Uganda is blessed with a rich diversity of natural habitats, species and genetic resources in its
forests. It is one of the most diverse countries in Africa, with for example 11% and 7% of the
world's bird and mammal species respectively, in only 0.02% of the land area. This biodiversity
has a great intrinsic value. It is also important to human health and wealth, for example by
providing traditional plant medicines, wild relatives of domestic plants, a variety of ecosystems
and species important in the tourism industry, and potential opportunities for Ugandans to adapt
to local and global change.
5
The heart of Uganda's approach to habitat and species conservation lies in a protected areas
system of National Parks, Wildlife Reserves and Forest Reserves. These areas are currently
managed under two different administrations (the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Forestry
Department), under different Acts (principally the Wildlife Statute and the Forests Act), and
generally focus on different components of biodiversity (wildlife and trees).

Uganda's rich forest biodiversity is under threat from:

* unsustainable harvesting, habitat conversion, the introduction of alien species and pollution;
* the illegal trade in plants and animals, including poorly regulated access to genetic resources;
* split administration between the Forestry Department and the Uganda Wildlife Authority
to address similar management issues (forest protection, beneficiary participation,
sustainable utilisation).

Forests also provide important environmental services in the protection of watershed and soil.
There are increasing pressures on important watersheds due to their high agricultural potential.
Poor crop and livestock management practices, including the cultivation and over-grazing of steep
slopes and riverbanks, have contributed to extensive soil erosion, and in some areas landslides.
The destructive harvesting of forest resources in watershed catchment forests is further contributing
to soil erosion and sedimentation, and to a reduction in the quantity and quality of water.

Key issues:
* how to ensure the survival of forest biodiversity and to balance this with the pressing
development needs of the country;
* how to rehabilitate and conserve key watershed forests.

1.2.7 URBAN FORESTRY

Urban and peri-urban forests improve the quality of life in both tangible and intangible ways.
The consumable products include firewood, food, fodder and poles. Invisible benefits include the
reduction of air pollution and noise, the control of water runoff and soil erosion, and the
enhancement of the landscape and recreation. With continued and accelerated urbanisation in
the country, the demand for these goods and services will grow, and so too will the role of urban
and peri-urban forestry.

Peri-urban and urban forestry are distinguished by differences in the land they use (private,
government or municipal), in the revenues they generate (commercial or non-commercial), and
in the parties they benefit (poor peri-urban farmers or the urban public).

6 The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)


Development of urban forestry is constrained through:
* Confusion between peri-urban plantations as commercial forestry operations close to urban
markets, and urban forestry which aims at greening the urban environment. Peri-urban
plantations are best developed under programmes of commercial and farm forestry, with
urban forestry being promoted under programmes of municipal greening.
* Inadequate linkages between the Forestry Department, the urban authorities, and non-
government organisations.
Key issues:
* how to promote and maintain the greening of the urban environment, and to meet the
increasing demand for forest products by urban centres.
1.2.8 LAND AND TREE TENURE
Tenure issues: there are considerable uncertainties over land ownership, land and tree tenure
and permitted land uses in the minds of many people in Uganda. In the case of government
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
Forest Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Reserves, the causes of confusion are often wilful
or genuine ignorance of the laws or the location of boundaries, which are not marked or have
been obscured. In the case of private lands, absentee landlords may be ignorant of the practices
on their lands, or these may overlap with the perceived customary uses of such lands.
Whatever the causes, the consequences are that there are few incentives for individuals or private
businesses to invest in tree growing or forest management when tenure is so uncertain. This
applies equally to tree tenure on private land, and the ownership of plantations or forest
resources on government land. Natural forests are perceived in many cases to be open-access
resources, including those on government land, to be used without regard to planned
management or sustainable yields.
Land and tree ownership: The Constitution (1995) and the Land Act (1998) give the lead on
questions of land ownership and tenure. There is no longer a category of public land, only
customary, freehold, mailo and leasehold land (article 237 of the Constitution, article 3 of the
Land Act). In the context of forestry, it is significant that customary ownership of land is valid and
legal, whether registered and titled or not.
All land is owned, including the trees growing on it, whether government or private land.
However, there is ambiguity in the special conditions applying to trees of Reserved Species.
Although trees planted on private land have always been privately owned, trees of Reserved
Species are not widely planted because of uncertain ownership.
Reserved land: the concept of "reserved" land, set aside for a specific land use, is a
management concept and need not necessarily mean that the estate is owned (held in trust) by
government. All interested parties, including individuals, groups, and communities, as well as
central and local government, can 'set aside' or reserve forests for the purposes of forestry in
perpetuity. This is in full accordance with the Constitution and the Land Act which recognise
customary land ownership, and provide for groups of people and communities to hold property
in common in legal ways (for example, through a Communal Land Association, under article 16
of the Land Act). There is no reason either why a person who holds land under freehold or mailo
tenure may not also set aside or 'reserve' forest land (through a certificate of customary
ownership or freehold title, under article 4 of the Land Act).
The concept of "forest reserves", therefore, needs to be widened to include private or community-
owned reserves. Where the commitment is made to maintain these as reserves in perpetuity, they
could be considered part of the Permanent Forest Estate.
Under the Land Act, the District Land Boards and the District Land Tribunals are vested with
considerable powers, as are the Land Committees and Sub-County Land Tribunals that deal with
local land matters. These bodies are entirely autonomous of central and local government and
cannot be directed by the executive on any land tenure matters. This offers a mechanism to
promote local wishes with regard to the protection of forested areas.
7
Gender concerns: typically men are more interested in trees as sources of construction materials
or cash income, while women's interests are more in the supply of firewood and the contribution
of forestry to food production. Women are disadvantaged in security of tenure, in many cases
they cannot inherit land and are rarely involved in decision-making over natural resource
management or the management of household income. All these factors are disincentives for
women to invest in tree growing.

Key issues:
* how to ensure that improved tenure to land and trees acts as an incentive for individuals,
and women in particular, and communities to invest in forestry;
* how to help private owners or communities "reserve" land for forestry.

1.2.9 SECTOR CO-ORDINATION

Division of responsibilities: The responsibility for managing and conserving forests is currently
scattered amongst a variety of government institutions, often with overlapping mandates and
competing interests. Although there is a lead ministry responsible for forestry, a number of other
ministries have a direct interest in the forest sector. The lack of co-ordination between these
interests in the past has led to inefficiency and a waste of public resources.

This was recognised in the National Environment Management Policy for Uganda (1994) where
the strategy to bring together the sectoral institutions responsible for biodiversity conservation
(particularly Forestry, Game, National Parks and Fisheries) under a common management
authority is clearly stated.

Sectoral boundaries: The forest sector cuts across many traditional management boundaries,
including energy, agriculture, water, industry, wildlife, education and economic development
planning.
The division of responsibilities and artificial sectoral boundaries have created a number of
potential and actual conflicts:
* between lead agencies such as the Forestry Department, the Uganda Wildlife Authority and
the National Environment Management Authority;
* between different systems of land tenure, which is comprised of overlays of various forms of
customary law with modern land and forest laws;
* between different land use policies, for agricultural expansion and for the conservation of
forest resources;
* between central government, local government and local community priorities for the use of
forest resources.
Co-ordination: A start has been made to improving sector co-ordination and reducing this
conflict through the government's 1998 Forest Sector Umbrella Programme. This includes a
Forest Sector Co-ordination Committee, chaired by the Ministry responsible for forestry and
supported by a professional Secretariat. This co-ordination framework includes representatives
of all the government ministries involved in the forest sector, as well as representatives from the
private sector and civil society. It aims to ensure that a co-ordinated sectoral approach is
developed and maintained.
Key issues:
* how to reduce these actual or potential conflicts with institutional, technical and policy
solutions, and to turn these to advantage by building synergy between institutions.

8 The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)

1.2.10 PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM
National Forestry Authority: in the report on Restructuring Government Ministries/Departments
(1998), and the report on the Post-Constitutional Restructuring of the Ministry of Lands, Water
and Environment (1998), the government has expressed its commitment to public sector reform.
In particular the decision has been made to create a semi-autonomous National Forestry
Authority to succeed the Forestry Department as the lead agency in forest management.
The adoption of a Results-Oriented Management system within government ministries is aimed
at modernising the management culture within the public service. The inefficiency of the current
institutional structures is recognised as a constraint to forest sector development, and the reform
will encourage good governance, transparency and accountability, and a focus on outputs rather
than activities.
Key issues:
* how to harmonise the creation of a new National Forestry Authority with the new
institutional, policy and planning framework that is being developed for the forest sector.
1.2.11 THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
* little of the revenue generated from forests, and passed from central to local government, has
been re-invested in forestry;
* forest management plans, where they exist, have rarely been integrated with district
development plans.
All of these factors have resulted in limited advances in the constitutional process of increasing
democracy and local rights and responsibilities, or in the immediate purpose of improving the
management of Local Forest Reserves.
Central Forest Reserves and private forestry: due to inconsistencies between the Local
Governments Act and the Forests Act, the role of local government in private forestry and in the
Central Forest Reserves has also been uncertain, particularly in revenue collection, licensing,
regulation, field operations and staff management. The above factors that constrain management
of Local Forest Reserves are also likely to apply to initiatives that strengthen the role of local
government in the management of Central Forest Reserves.
Key issues:
* how to build capacity and systems for local government to engage actively in government
and private forestry.

The decentralisation framework provided for in the Local Governments Act (1997) involves the
devolution of powers from central government to the districts and other lower councils. The Land
Act (1998) places the responsibility for regulating land tenure on local autonomous land boards,
a level of decision-making that is independent of the executive district authorities. These acts aim
to ensure good governance and democratic participation in decision-making, including decisions
concerning the management of natural resources.

Although the management of all Forest Reserves was decentralised in 1993, it was subsequently re-
centralised in 1995 because many districts lacked both the technical expertise and the financial
resources for their effective management. The government recognises that local authorities must play
an important role in promoting forest sector development, including private, community and farm
forestry responsibilities.

Local Forest Reserves: The Forest Reserves (Declaration) Order (1998) has subsequently defined
Central and Local Forest Reserves and the mandate of local government in the management of
Local Forest Reserves. However, this has again been constrained by:
* the lack of local capacity to manage and conserve these forests;
* many Local Forest Reserve boundaries are not clearly demarcated, leading to deliberate or
accidental encroachment;
* commitment by local authorities to sustainable forest management has been limited, with
higher priority given to revenue generation than to conservation;

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001) 9

1.2.12 THE ROLE OF THE COMMERCIAL PRIVATE SECTOR * there is limited provision in the current forestry law for legal agreements between the state and
community groups to manage forests;
Part of the agenda for restructuring government has been to decrease the size of central and * there is still only a growing awareness in government institutions about the need to support the
local government, and to reduce its role in activities that can be performed better by the private development of community organisations for the collaborative management of forest
sector. The government sees a major role for the private sector in forestry, particularly in the resources.
production and processing of wood products and in ecotourism, which are major employers and
which require good business management. However, there have been a number of constraints to
the active involvement of private finance and skills in forestry. These have included: Key issues:
* poorly co-ordinated and monitored administrative systems for the harvesting and movement of * how to develop partnerships or management agreements with local communities that
forest produce; improve forest management and alleviate poverty.
* the absence of clear land and tree tenure arrangements, which has been a disincentive to
commercial tree growing;
* the poor quality and availability of seed and planting stock for plantation forestry;
* market disincentives for investment and the re-investment of profits;
* conflicting guiding policies.

Key issues:
* how to apply an effective regulatory system to safeguard public interests under private
sector forest management agreements;
* how to develop and apply high technical standards to private forestry;
* how to ensure better legal provisions for tenure to encourage long-term investment;
* how to create more positive attitudes in the public and private sectors to ensure effective
partnerships between government and private businesses.

1.2.13 THE ROLE OF LOCAL FOREST COMMUNITIES

In the emerging consensus about the importance of involving the private sector more in forestry
in Uganda, there is a tendency to assume that private businesses and local communities are
synonymous. This is rarely the case. Local communities comprise a range of interested parties, a
number of whom may be good business entrepreneurs, but many of whom are also poor and
marginalised groups. The focus of collaborative forest management and farm forestry is
specifically on the poorer and more vulnerable groups in society, who are also dependent on
forest resources for their livelihoods. These groups frequently do not have a voice, and are often 1.2.14 THE ROLE OF NGOS AND CBOS
driven by poverty into poor land management practices.
Non-Governmental Organisations and Community-Based Organisations can provide a pivotal
There are a number of constraints on local communities in alleviating poverty through forest role in mobilising and sensitising local people, in strengthening civil society and in supporting
sector development: their active participation in the management of forests and trees. In circumstances where
* individuals often lack technical information and skills; government advisory services have had a limited ability to reach rural communities, NGOs and
* there are frequently few or no local institutions through which they can participate actively in CBOs have been successful in supplementing the efforts of the public sector, in ensuring that the
decision-making about forest resource management; concerns of the underprivileged are incorporated in national development processes.

10 The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)

The strengths of NGOs/CBOs are their long-term commitment, access to communities, extension materials and facilities have limited the advisory support given to farmers. NGOs and
participatory approaches, independence and ability to act fast. Their weaknesses can often be CBOs are carrying out some information dissemination, but this is mostly project-specific and
limited management capacity, a lack of specific skills relating to forestry, and a shortage of covers limited geographical areas.
financial resources. NGOs/CBOs are likely to be key organisations in the implementation of
forestry development, in a number of roles: There is great concern about the need to plan massive tree planting to cover river banks,
lakeshores and bare hills, and to expand forest resources in the country. A revamped and
* building capacity and providing an interface between government and civil society; effective extension and advisory support service is crucial to achieve greater impact countrywide
* providing a monitoring and watchdog role concerning the interests of poorer sections in tree growing and more efficient management and use of energy and wood resources. It must
of society; recognise that farm forestry will only work if it is relevant to farming systems and rural
* advocating and supporting policy changes in the interests of sustainable forestry development. livelihoods, if there are markets for forest and tree products, if land and tree tenure are secure,
and if there are adequate seed supplies and technical advice.

Key issues:
* how to strengthen and make best use of the capacity and reach of NGOs and CBOs
in facilitating forestry development.
1.2.15 FORESTRY EXTENSION AND ADVISORY SERVICES
Government's capacity to deliver forestry advisory services has greatly reduced. The Unified
Extension Service did not realise the benefits that had been anticipated. At the moment, the
national extension service is poorly resourced and is undergoing reorganisation. Inadequate
The development of innovative and decentralised approaches to extension and advisory services
must be built on:
* research and technology development, including agroforestry technologies;
* improved mechanisms for delivering extension and advice;
* a framework for providing rural credit;
* support to production, processing and marketing of forest products;
* improved forestry education;
* improved natural resources management on farms, including land, water, forests and
the environment.

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001) 11

Extension and advisory services need to be provided by local level forestry staff, in government
service, NGOs / CBOs or the private sector. Forestry staff not absorbed into the new NFA
structures during reform of the Forest Department will become available to the districts and
NGOs, to be recruited under new funding mechanisms at no additional cost to Local
Governments. There is also a strong role for the Ministry responsible for forestry. This includes
the development of guidelines for the delivery of extension and advisory services across the
country, advocacy for government funding of these services, and the widespread promotion of
opportunities, new technologies and market information relevant to farm forestry.
The provision of advice for commercial forestry has been particularly limited, although there has
been some training in charcoal and sawmill operations, which has had a restricted impact.
Larger commercial enterprises undertaking tree growing tend to become self-sufficient in
technical advice and are well-run businesses, but many small to medium-sized enterprises could
clearly benefit from advice in business planning and forest technologies. In the case of processing
industries (notably sawmilling and pitsawing), the wastage and inefficiency that predominates in
the sector is clear evidence of the need for advice, improved technologies and clear standards
and guidelines.
Key issues:
* how to develop and support responsive, affordable, well-informed and decentralised
forestry advisory services to farmers, communities and the forest industry.
1.2.16 EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESEARCH
In the formal education system, forestry has not been treated as a separate subject but integrated
into the agriculture, environment or geography syllabus. Therefore students and pupils do not
clearly learn the vital functions, services and products of forests and trees, and why they should
be grown and sustainably managed. This greatly narrows the knowledge base among the public.
Professional and technical training in forestry is conducted by Makerere University and
Nyabyeya Forest College respectively. These produce mainly management and lower level
supervisory staff, as there is inadequate practical training. Further, there is no forestry worker
training programme, leading to inefficient forestry operations. This is aggravated by a lack of
training in forest product processing, which leads to wasteful use of forest resources.
Following the establishment of NARO in 1992, forestry research was divested to FORRI from the
Forestry Department. Therefore forestry research is now largely undertaken by FORRI and the
Universities of Makerere and Mbarara. These institutions have good human resources capacities,
but at the national level forestry research has been given a low priority in terms of funding and
infrastructure development. There has been poor co-ordination and collaboration, and weak
12
links between the research institutions and with the interested parties. This has resulted in
inadequate mechanisms for determining national research priorities that could contribute to
forestry development.
Non-governmental and private forestry organisations are poorly developed, and thus cannot
absorb trained foresters who are not employed by government agencies.
Regional and international co-operation in forestry education, training and research, focussing
particularly on regional centres of excellence, has been relatively weak. This has been due to lack
of financial support for collaborative activities.
Key issues:
* how to develop and support demand-driven, affordable, and well co-ordinated research
and training institutions and programmes;
* how to anticipate the future demands for specific skills and competencies in forest sector
development.
1.2.17 POLICY HARMONISATION
As already indicated, a range of relevant policies and laws in the environment and natural
resources sectors has been developed since 1994. Sector policies that overlap with forestry in
particular are agriculture, energy, wildlife, environment and mining. Although most of these are
mutually supportive and complementary, the fast pace of their development has led to limited
knowledge of these by Ugandan citizens and government officials. The consultative process for
the development of this policy has encouraged greater awareness of the need for
complementarity with other sectors.
Key issues:
* how to develop a sector wide programme that translates forestry policy into action in a way
that complements programmes in related sectors.
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
2.Guiding Principles for the Forest Sector
The following general principles guide the Forestry Policy. These
principles build on the government's national development priorities of
poverty eradication and good governance.
2.1 NATIONAL OBJECTIVES: the Forestry Policy is consistent with the
national objectives and directive principles guiding sustainable
development found in the Constitution (Box 3) and Vision 2025.
2.2 CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
Uganda's forests should be managed to meet the needs of this
generation without compromising the rights of future generations.
2.3 LIVELIHOODS AND POVERTY: the improvement of livelihoods
should be a major goal in all the strategies and actions for
the development of the forest sector so as to contribute to poverty
eradication.
2.4 BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: forest
sector development should safeguard the nation's forest
biodiversity and environmental services through effective
conservation strategies.
2.5 PARTNERSHIPS IN GOVERNANCE: new institutional relationships
should enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability and
professionalism, and build confidence in all forest stakeholders:
* The role of central government: central government should
withdraw from activities that can be carried out more effectively
by the private sector or other stakeholders, but maintain core
functions of policy development and regulation.
* The role of local government: more forest resources should be
managed through devolved responsibility wherever practical and
advisable.
* The role of the private sector: private sector investment should be
maximised in the development of the forest sector.
* The role of local communities and farmers: the public's
participation in the management of the country's forests should
be actively encouraged.
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
* The role of NGOs/CBOs: these should be encouraged to
strengthen civil society, to build capacity and grassroots
participation, and to help develop the rights and responsibilities
of forest users.
2.6 GENDER AND EQUITY: the active participation and affirmative
action of all women and men, young people and the elderly, and
vulnerable or disadvantaged groups should be integrated into
forest sector development.
2.7 CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS: forest sector
development should take into consideration cultural and
traditional attributes and institutions.
2.8 INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS: legislation should be
developed to support the implementation of current and future
international commitments that affect the forest sector.
2.9 FORESTRY VALUATION: environmental and social values should
be used in cost/benefit valuations when assessing strategies to
implement the Forestry Policy.
Box 3
RELEVANT NATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF THE
CONSTITUTION (1995)
Article XIII (Protection of Natural Resources) regarding:
* the protection of important natural resources on behalf of the people of
Uganda
Article XXVII (The Environment) regarding:
* the needs for sustainable management of land, air and water resources
* the use of natural resources to meet development and environment needs
* the promotion of sustainable energy polices
* the creation of parks and reserves for conservation of natural resources
* the protection of biodiversity
13
14 The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
3.Forestry Policy Statements
The Goal of the Forestry Policy is:
Forestry Policy Goal:
An integrated forest sector that achieves sustainable increases in the economic, social
and environmental benefits from forests and trees by all the people of Uganda,
especially the poor and vulnerable
The specific policy statements are set out as follows:
Two higher level statements establish the policy for:
* forestry on government land (Policy Statement 1) and;
* forestry on private land (Policy Statement 2).
Within this framework, policy statements are then set out for the development of:
* commercial forest plantations (Policy Statement 3);
* forest products processing industries (Policy Statement 4);
* collaborative forest management (Policy Statement 5);
* farm forestry (Policy Statement 6);
* forest biodiversity conservation (Policy Statement 7);
* watershed management (Policy Statement 8);
* urban forestry (Policy Statement 9);
* education, training and research (Policy Statement 10);
* supply of tree seed and planting material (Policy Statement 11).
For each of these, a range of strategies to implement the policy statement is then listed based on
the guiding principles set out in section 2.
Following this, in section 4, key elements of support for the implementation of the Forestry Policy
are set out. These will be further elaborated during the sector wide planning processes that
develop and update the National Forest Plan, and will be the means by which the Forestry
Policy's implementation will be kept current with Uganda's needs.
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
Policy Statement 1: on forestry on government land
The Permanent Forest Estate under government trusteeship will be protected
and managed sustainably
The government will actively protect, maintain and sustainably manage the current Permanent
Forest Estate. This estate will be set aside permanently for the conservation of biodiversity, the
protection of environmental services, and the sustainable production of domestic and commercial
forest produce.
The current area of the Permanent Forest Estate is adequate for the purposes of providing forest
products. To meet future demands, bare areas of the PFE will be afforested and forestry on
private lands will be increased. The current PFE also contains the majority of the country's
valuable biodiversity. However, where other areas are identified as being of national significance
for biodiversity conservation or protection of watersheds, riverbanks and lakeshores, and
would be better protected under government's management, the government will gazette such
areas as part of the Permanent Forest Estate under the provisions of the Constitution.
Management of the PFE will be governed by partnerships between the state and civil society. All
activities in the PFE, by whatever agency or organisation, will be governed by a management
plan that is developed and agreed between partners.
Strategies for the implementation of this policy statement will include:
* Strengthen the legal basis of the Permanent Forest Estate.
* Re-survey all government reserves with a view to demarcating and rationalising boundaries,
and resolving encroachment problems.
* Encourage and develop partnerships between the government and civil society. Options for
the management of the PFE include management directly by the state, lease to third parties,
management by local communities, NGOs/CBOs or private organisations, or management
through joint management agreements with local community groups.
* Develop management plans for all reserved forests. These will promote expansion of forest
cover and best practice in the sustainable management of forest resources.
* Develop codes of conduct and standards, and the development of criteria and indicators that
can be applied to forest certification.
* Support the development of responsible private sector enterprises that can harvest timber and
non-timber forest products from natural forests.
* Regulate the use and trade of all products from the permanent forest estate, and promote the
use of lesser-known species.
* Review the Reserved Species regulations.
* Ensure protection of the PFE from alien species, pests and diseases.
15

Policy Statement 2: on forestry on private land
The development and sustainable management of natural forests on private land will
be promoted
The government will promote the sustainable management of natural forests on private lands.
Within the context of wider integrated land use and expanding agricultural needs, these private
forests will be managed for the sustainable production of forest resources. The government will
specifically promote the sustainable management of tropical high forests on private lands so as
to maintain the current national levels of such forest cover.
The government recognises that without deliberate action, natural forests on private lands will
continue to decline. The government aims to halt such decline, with the use of a range of tools to
promote best practices. Public education and advisory services will raise the level of awareness
among landowners of the value and multiple uses of natural forests, the ways that trees can be
integrated into farming systems, and how fallow farmland can be brought back to forest cover.
Reservation of natural forests by private or customary landowners will be encouraged, to set land
aside for forestry in perpetuity. The government recognises that some form of incentives will be
required for such reservation.
16
Strategies for the implementation of this policy statement will include:
* Raise awareness of the ownership of forests and trees on private land.
* Encourage owners to set aside private forests as permanent forest land.
* Investigate options for economic, social and cultural incentives to encourage private owners to
maintain and manage natural forests.
* Develop capacity of institutions such as local governments, traditional institutions and user
groups and to sustainably manage private forests.
* Develop capacity of individuals including forest owners, women's and youth groups, to support
the management of private forests and integrate trees into farming systems.
* Encourage NGOs and CBOs to support private forest management.
* Explore and promote options for management by owners themselves, with advice and
assistance from relevant service providers.
* Encourage the development of management plans for all private forests. These will promote
best practice in the sustainable management of forest resources.
* Develop codes of conduct and standards, and the development of criteria and indicators that
can be applied to forest certification.
* Monitor the use and trade of all products from the private forests, and promote the use of
lesser-known species.
* Review the Reserved Species regulations.
* Monitor the protection of private forests from alien species, pests and diseases.
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
 Policy Statement 3: on commercial forest plantations Policy Statement 4: on forest products processing industries
Profitable and productive forest plantation businesses will be promoted A modern, competitive, efficient and well-regulated wood and non-wood processing
industry will be promoted in the private sector

The private sector will play the major role in developing and managing commercial forest
plantations. This may either be through large-scale industrial plantations on government or The private sector will play the major role in developing and managing the forest products
private land, or through small-scale plantations on farms. processing industries, and will capture the potential for value addition through high quality
processing.
The role of government will be to support and regulate this development. It will put in place
a regulatory framework, which will control illegal practices, monitor best practice, measure The role of government is to facilitate and regulate these activities. The government will develop
environmental and social impacts, and collect dues. The government will create a positive investment and maintain a strong regulatory framework, which will control illegal practices, monitor best
climate to encourage private investment in commercial forest plantations. The government will practice, measure environmental and social impacts, and collect dues. The government will also
also set out priority areas for the development of fuelwood, timber and carbon storage create a positive investment climate to encourage private investment in the processing industry.
plantations in different areas of Uganda, concentrating fuelwood priorities in peri-urban areas.
Strategies for implementation of this policy statement will include:
Strategies for the implementation of this policy statement will include: * Introduce competitive bidding for harvesting concessions in government plantations,
* Strengthen legal agreements between government and private investors for use of the Forest to improve transparency, to increase revenues to government and to reflect the real values
Reserves, and review forest and tree tenure rules, to encourage development of commercial of the resource.
forest plantations. * Introduce performance bonds for harvesting contractors, to improve best practice and
* Promote innovative financing mechanisms, such as a Forestry Fund, and fiscal incentives to ensure responsible management.
in order to encourage investment and ensure sustainable sources of operational and * Improve the regulation of concessions including the development of harvesting and processing
re-investment funds. standards, social and environmental impact assessments, and the collection
* Review the Investment Code to better accommodate large industrial forest plantation of dues.
developments.
* Encourage small to medium-scale commercial plantation development, to foster local
economic benefits, especially for the poor, women and the youth.
* Strengthen private sector organisations to improve communications, access to market
information and technical collaboration in the plantation industry.
* Progressively divest the management of existing commercial plantations on Forest Reserves
to the private sector.
* Make the administrative procedures and allocation of permits more transparent, and minimise
interference by government in market processes.
* Develop standards of best practice for commercial plantations and disseminate these to
the private sector.
* Develop improved seed sources and planting stock and promote their commercial production
and distribution.
* Ensure that social and environmental impact assessments are observed when developing
management plans and legal agreements.
* Pursue options to increase wood yields through research, technological and
managerial innovation.

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001) 17

* Optimise royalty rates and fees to reflect the economic values of forest resources and yet * Strengthen the role of NGOs/CBOs in mobilising communities and building capacity for
provide adequate incentives for private investment. implementing collaborative forest management.
* Eliminate indirect subsidies to forest products which distort the market. * Develop technical approaches to collaborative forest management that are consistent with the
* Strengthen private sector organisations to improve communications, access to market principles of sustainable forest management.
information and technical collaboration in the processing industry. * Ensure resolution of conflicts relating to problem animals.
* Reduce inefficiency and wastage through the use of appropriate processing machinery,
research, new technology and waste utilisation.
* Promote value-addition through high quality secondary and tertiary processing, and limiting
the export of raw materials.
* Encourage new forest products and markets, including artisanal wood and non-wood
products.
* Encourage equitable access to processing and marketing opportunities for different social
groups, especially women and poor or vulnerable groups.

Policy Statement 5: on collaborative forest management

Collaborative partnerships with rural communities will be developed for the sustainable
management of forests

The government will promote innovative approaches to community participation in forest

management on both government and private forest lands. This will address the disincentives
associated with a protectionist approach to forest management, and the destructive practices
associated with open access to forest resources.

The development of collaborative forest management will define the rights, roles and
responsibilities of partners and the basis for sharing benefits from improved forest management.
There will be a specific focus on wide stakeholder participation, collective responsibility and
equity, and on improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.

Strategies for the implementation of this policy statement will include:

* Harmonise approaches and legislation relating to collaborative forest management between
lead government agencies, and with NGOs/CBOs.
* Develop a supportive legal basis for devolved decision-making, enforcing regulations,
arbitration, and accountability.
* Develop a supportive legal basis for tree tenure, access rights and sharing of benefits from
wood and non-wood forest products.
* Develop security of land tenure for collaborative management of private forests.
* Develop both the capacity and attitude changes in government and non-government agencies
to create genuine partnerships for collaboration with local community groups.
* Develop robust community institutions to ensure transparent decision-making, the adequate
representation and participation of women, men and vulnerable groups and the equitable
sharing of forest benefits and responsibilities.

18 The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)


Policy Statement 6: on farm forestry
Tree-growing on farms will be promoted in all farming systems, and innovative mechanisms
for the delivery of forestry extension and advisory services will be developed
The government will promote and support farm forestry in order to boost land productivity,
increase farm incomes, alleviate pressures on natural forests and improve food security. There
are important opportunities for tree farming on private land, for firewood, poles, non-wood
products, fruit trees and even timber. This may be in the form of woodlots, agroforestry, silvi-
pasture, management of natural trees on farm or small-scale commercialisation.
The government will provide extension and advisory services that support farmers, communities,
organisations and entrepreneurs in the conservation and sustainable management of forests and
in the development of farm forestry.
The government recognises the strong unmet demand for farm forestry advice across the country,
and the need for professional services. These services will be developed within the national
framework, to include advocacy and monitoring by the Ministry responsible for forestry, and
service delivery through decentralised, farmer-driven mechanisms, to increase
the integration of forestry in rural livelihood strategies.
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
Strategies for the implementation of this policy statement will include:
* Strengthen the organisation of farmers for better communication and collaboration in the
development of farm forestry.
* Build the capacity of farmers to integrate forestry into all farming systems.
* Disseminate farm forestry advice through decentralised, farmer-driven service delivery
mechanisms.
* Develop the capacity of NGOs, CBOs and private contractors as well as government agencies
to provide farm forestry advice and training.
* Create awareness of the ownership of planted trees to provide clear incentives and security
for individuals to undertake on-farm tree-growing.
* Intensify participatory research on farm forestry technologies in all agro-ecological zones,
and promote farmer innovators.
* Support the private sector to establish and manage commercial tree nurseries to support farm
forestry.
* Support the development of high quality tree seed and planting stock.
* Integrate agroforestry into school curricula and adult literacy material.
* Support the domestication of endangered, vulnerable, endemic or rare wild tree species and
promote their conservation on farm.
* Promote the use of indigenous species and indigenous knowledge in farm forestry.
19

Policy Statement 7: on the conservation of forest biodiversity
Uganda's forest biodiversity will be conserved and managed in
support of local and national socio-economic development and
international obligations
The government is committed to the conservation of Uganda's rich
forest biodiversity, to meet the needs and aspirations of present and
future generations. The government will promote the conservation and
wise use of representative examples of all ecosystems and species in
the country.
The government's biodiversity conservation strategy will continue to be
based on a system of Protected Areas, including Forest Reserves,
National Parks and Wildlife Reserves. The government recognises that
local communities must enjoy adequate benefits from these Protected
Areas, and to achieve this, they must have a meaningful participation
in their management. In addition, the government will support efforts to
safeguard biodiversity in private forests and to improve agricultural
biodiversity through farm forestry initiatives.
The government is a signatory to a number of international agreements
and conventions relevant to the forest sector, covering conservation,
access to genetic resources, trade in endangered species and cross-
border co-operation, and it will continue to support and implement
these obligations.
Strategies for the implementation of this policy statement will include:
* Support conservation initiatives in priority forests with high
biodiversity value, including both government and private forests, as
identified in the Nature Conservation Master Plan, the Protected Area
Assessment Programme and the National Biodiversity Strategy.
* Promote collaboration between sectoral institutions concerned with
biodiversity conservation (Forestry, Wildlife, Fisheries and
Agriculture).
* Promote collaborative management of Protected Areas, with defined
responsibilities and sharing of benefits derived from biodiversity
conservation.
* Address conflicts resulting from problem animals near
Protected Areas.
* Promote the development of biodiversity-related tourism, to generate
income for local and national benefits.
20
* Increase knowledge of forest biological diversity, its management
and its potential for future use.
* Support the implementation of international biodiversity obligations
and cross-border conservation initiatives, with any required
subsidiary legislation and regulations.
* Integrate and co-ordinate methods of forest genetic and species
conservation through seed banks, botanical gardens and arboreta.
Policy Statement 8: on watershed management and
soil conservation
Watershed protection forests will be established, rehabilitated
and conserved
The government will promote the rehabilitation and conservation of
forests that protect the soil and water in the country's key watersheds
and river systems.
Achievements in watershed protection through forestry will result from
the adoption of appropriate farm forestry methods on degraded private
lands, from the improved management of natural forests on hilly private
lands, and from the restoration of degraded hills on government lands.
Strategies for the implementation of this policy statement will include:
* Promote the rehabilitation of degraded forests in water catchment
areas and bare hills through private, community and farm forestry
initiatives.
* Develop and promote guidelines on the management of riverside
forests.
* Develop accompanying regulations to the provisions of the National
Environment Statute (1995), the Water Statute (1995) and others,
relating to watershed management, soil conservation and the
protection of riverbanks and lakeshores.
* Develop and promote awareness, educational and community
mobilisation programmes to promote good integrated land use
practices in hilly areas, and protect watersheds from degradation.
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
 Policy Statement 9: on urban forestry
Urban forestry will be promoted

The government is committed to improving the livelihoods and well-being of urban people by
supporting urban forestry and improving the urban landscape and environment. The private and
non-government sectors will be encouraged to play a major role in the development of urban
forestry, and be given adequate support and incentives, in collaboration with urban authorities.

Strategies for the implementation of this policy statement will include:

* Promote the establishment and maintenance of green belts in urban areas as part of urban
land-use planning, with urban authorities.
* Develop institutional linkages between the proposed NFA, urban authorities, NGOs/CBOs
and the private sector to plan and implement urban forestry developments.
* Encourage NGOs, CBOs and the private sector, including women's and youth groups, to plant
trees in all urban areas in Uganda, through appropriate education, publicity, incentives, land
leases and tree tenure arrangements.
* Promote the planting of road reserves through the Ministry responsible for roads.
* Provide technical advice on tree nurseries, guidelines on urban tree planting and
management, including site selection criteria and appropriate tree species and sources
of seeds.

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001) 21

 Policy Statement 10: on education, training and research Policy Statement 11: on supply of tree seed and planting stock
The government will support sustainable forest sector development through appropriate Innovative mechanisms for the supply of high quality tree seed and improved planting
education, training and research. stock will be developed

The government will promote and implement public education programmes to increase
awareness and understanding of the role of forests and trees in Uganda's national economy and
local livelihoods, and the crucial environmental services they provide.
The government will support the development of training capacity to respond to the sector's
needs. Government training institutions, as well as private training services, will be encouraged
to re-orient themselves towards new areas of market demand for forestry skills. These should
respond to the needs of the private sector, NGOs and local governments, and to the lack of
specific practical skills.
The government will promote cost-effective research that responds to the needs of farmers,
private investors, communities, advisory services, and central and local government agencies
that are in the front line of forest management. Improved institutional co-ordination and
collaboration will be promoted, to improve links between researchers and end-users. This will
help to set research priorities, increase the efficiency and the targeting of research, and facilitate
the exchange and dissemination of information.
The Ministry responsible for forestry will promote the development of adequate supplies of high
quality tree seeds and improved planting stock to meet the needs of small-scale farmers and
large-scale commercial tree growers. The government will promote extensive tree growing in the
country, and recognises that success will depend on the supply of tree planting material that is
productive, stable and well adapted to local conditions.
The Ministry responsible for forestry will promote seed procurement, tree improvement and
genetic resource conservation. The government will build capacity for research and
development in these areas. Priority indigenous tree species that are endangered will be
conserved as sources of tree seed and planting material.
The private sector has a major role to play in the collection and distribution of tree seeds
and planting stock. The government will help to build capacity in the private sector to enable
effective seed supply and marketing, and develop mechanisms to ensure high standards
and quality control.

Strategies for the implementation of this policy statement will include:

* Develop public education and communication programmes to build public awareness of
issues in the forest sector.
* Develop promotional campaigns to encourage tree-growing.
* Introduce forestry as a separate subject in schools and colleges and develop appropriate
syllabi.
* Review the formal curriculum in government training institutions to keep up-to-date with
market demands in forestry training.
* Build capacity in government and private training institutions to provide specialised and
practical training of foresters and forest workers.
* Create a national co-ordination structure for forestry research to strengthen linkages between
regulatory, research and training institutions, and end users.
* Raise the profile of forestry research in national research programmes.
* Promote demand-driven research by encouraging the participation of the NFA and end-users
of research results in the identification, design, implementation and evaluation of research
activities.
* Establish processes for monitoring the status of forest resources.
* Increase international and regional co-operation in forestry research and training.

22 The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)

 Strategies for the implementation of this policy statement will include:
* Determine and monitor national seed demand and supply.
* Identify, establish and manage seed sources for priority tree species.
* Produce, market and promote the use of high quality tree seed.
* Support linkages to national, regional and international research and development to
improve tree seed and access modern germplasm propagation techniques.
* Develop standards and guidelines for seed collection, handling and distribution to ensure
quality control.
* Develop capacity for the supply and distribution of tree seed through the private sector.
* Build capacity in the private sector for tree nursery management.
* Ensure that the special needs of different ecological zones for seed supply and nursery
management are met.
* Carry out gene conservation of high priority, endangered indigenous tree species to
guarantee sustained availability.

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001) 23

24 The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
4.Support for Implementing the Forestry Policy
Section 4 sets out the key elements of support for the implementation of the Forestry Policy. These with active investment promotion, will encourage a range of private investments in commercial
are: forestry.

A - Sector-Wide Planning Public sector: A public sector investment programme will be developed using economic values
B - Sector Investment for forest resources, including analyses of the different impact of costs and benefits in forestry
C - Sector Co-ordination development. This will include conservation and environmental protection, and wider social and
D - Institutional Reform economic development issues. There are several areas where the government can increase its
E - Forestry Legislation capacity to generate revenues:
F - Gender and Equity * boost the recovery of dues to government, which is currently extremely low;
G - International and Regional Co-operation * rationalize the existing royalty rates that have historically been well below the true
H - Sector Monitoring and Evaluation economic and environmental values;
* review the revenue sharing arrangements with districts to make these realistic
and sustainable.
A - Sector-Wide Planning
A national forest programming approach will be adopted Development partners: support from development partners will be needed for forest sector
development during the transition to sustainable national funding. The government with donors
will move towards co-ordinated funding mechanisms to support a sector-wide forestry
A National Forest Plan (NFP) will provide a strategic framework for the development of the forest development programme, as set out in the National Forest Plan. Improved co-ordination of this
sector, and will be regularly updated to keep pace with changes. This will be supported by a support will be a responsibility of new forest sector co-ordination structures.
process of regular forest sector reviews.
International funding: further sources of funding for sector development will be actively
The NFP will be a framework for turning the Forestry Policy into action, with short-, medium- and pursued, including carbon credits or international funds to support biodiversity conservation.
long-term goals and programmes for sub-sectors and regions, which address critical issues in
order of priority. Organisational and institutional roles and responsibilities will be redefined to
conform to the new sector vision, and the changes reflected in a new legal and operational C - Sector Co-ordination
framework. Sectoral co-ordination structures will be established

B - Sector Investment
The government will develop a favourable investment climate for private and public
investment in the sector
The implementation of the Forestry Policy will require significant financial and human resources.
The government will develop a long-term investment programme for the forest sector, through the
National Forest Plan processes. This will require a co-ordinated programme of support based on
four types of investment:
A forest sector co-ordination structure will be developed to provide a forum for sector-wide
planning and co-ordination. This will require representation from central government ministries
involved in the forest sector, local governments, the private sector and civil society. Such a
structure will ensure that a co-ordinated and balanced sectoral approach is maintained, as
government's direct involvement in the sector is redefined and reduced, and the role of the
private sector and civil society is increased. This co-ordination structure will be supported by a
professional body, which will be developed using resources drawn from the sector's stakeholders.
Its staffing and operations will reflect the evolving needs for sector
co-ordination.

Private sector: a positive investment climate will be created for the private sector. This will include A national consultative forum will be developed to allow the public, international partners and
new financial incentives, the removal of market distortions, review of the Investment Code, review all interested parties to contribute to a regular debate on the forest sector, to improve sector co-
of legislation on land leases, the creation of a Forestry Fund, and the development of more ordination and inform national priorities.
transparent and accountable systems of administration and regulation. This new climate, coupled

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001) 25


D - Institutional Reform
The institutional framework for the forest sector will be strengthened
The institutional framework for the forest sector will be strengthened to implement the Forestry
Policy. This will be based on:
* the reform of central and local governments' roles and responsibilities;
* a greatly increased role for the private sector and non-government organisations in
service delivery;
* improved regulation of the sector;
* new approaches to the development and strengthening of civil society through local
community institutions and associations;
* redefined relationships between organisations in the sector, and the establishment of a better
legal basis for these through contractual or service agreements, tendering, and partnership
agreements between state and civil organisations.
This new framework will help to drive changes within organisations and sector institutions, and
will reflect the new multi-stakeholder, multi-objective, people-friendly approaches to forest sector
development.
26
Central government: the reform and restructuring of government functions is improving co-
ordination in the forest sector, and is defining new roles and responsibilities for different
government and private agencies. Rather than being involved directly in forestry production and
management, government will increasingly support the efforts of outside agencies, through better
co-ordination, new partnerships, clarification of roles and responsibilities, and improved
regulation. Capacity building will be needed to ensure that these new roles can be fulfilled.
The government's Ministry responsible for forestry, through the new forest sector
co-ordination structure, will:
* ensure the integration of the interests of all the relevant Ministries, local government, the private
sector and civil society;
* co-ordinate the sector programme support being provided by the international community and
other partners;
* maintain an oversight of sector planning;
* develop sector policy;
* regulate the sector;
* monitor the provision of forestry advisory services.
The government is committed to the reform of the present Forestry Department, and the
development of a new national forestry authority. This new institution is planned to have
considerable autonomy in its operations and the way it generates and manages its human and
financial resources.
It will be more focussed on defined objectives than the existing Forestry Department. It will be
financially viable and will operate in a business-like manner, while leaving forest sector policy,
planning and legislation to the relevant Ministry and its cross-sectoral co-ordination structures.
The new institution will have two principal functions with respect to the management of the
national forest assets:
* the sustainable management of the government's Central Forest Reserves, and;
* the promotion and development of private forestry.
New approaches to the administration of forest reserves will be developed, to improve efficiency
and to account for forests that span local government boundaries. The institution will have powers
to manage forest reserves and to advise on private forestry activities, and will be responsible for
regulatory functions delegated by the responsible Ministry.
The reform of institutions in the forest sector will follow the current policy of achieving, in the
longer-term, a common management authority for the sectoral institutions concerned with
biodiversity conservation. In view of this, the new forestry authority will develop close links and
liaison with NEMA, UWA, relevant line ministries, NGOs/CBOs and the private sector.
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
Local government: efforts will be made to clarify the role of local governments in management
of forest resources on government and private land, and to build capacity for the management
of Local Forest Reserves. Wherever possible this will encourage local councils to devolve
responsibility for management down to local community level. Innovative approaches to forestry
development on state and private land will be developed, including:
* effective systems and processes for planning, management and regulation of
forestry practices;
* re-investment of forest revenues in the sector;
* integration of forest management plans with district development plans;
* development of supportive by-laws.
Particular attention will be paid to further support the existing powers for decentralised
management, in the areas of decision-making, regulation and arbitration, with appropriate
systems of accountability to forest stakeholders.
E - Forestry Legislation
A new legal framework for the forest sector will be developed
The government will review and revise the legal framework for the forest sector. A new Forests
Act will provide an enabling legal framework for the Forestry Policy and the National Forest Plan.
This will replace the Forests Act of 1964. The review will also consider the National Environment
Statute (1995), the Wildlife Statute (1996), the Water Statute (1995), the Local Governments Act
(1997), the Land Act (1998) and other relevant laws, with a view to harmonizing these. The
review and revision will also seek to support international agreements, conventions and treaties,
and up-dating the sectoral legal framework.

Any ambiguities and contradictions in the provisions of the Constitution, the Local Governments
Act and the Land Act with respect to the role of districts in forest sector development will be
addressed. Mechanisms will be developed for supporting the collaboration between the
production and environment committees at various levels of government in each district, and
local community institutions and associations, to promote community and farm forestry.

The private sector: the government will support greater private sector participation in forestry
development, particularly in forestry plantations, with:
* better technical advice and support;
* improved economic incentives;
* more transparent administrative processes, and;
* greater security of tenure over resources created under private initiatives.

Along with this support, there will be improved regulation of private sector operations where
there are public interests at stake, including the application of sustainable, environmental and
social best practices in forestry management.

NGOs and CBOs: Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community-Based

Organisations (CBOs) will have pivotal roles in service delivery and advocacy for sustainable
forest sector development. With their technical expertise, their sensitivity to gender and poverty,
and their contacts with the grassroots, the roles of NGOs and CBOs will include:
* mobilising and sensitising local people;
* strengthening civil society;
* supporting active local participation in managing forests and trees;
* supporting the provision of advisory services, and;
* ensuring that the concerns of the underprivileged are incorporated into national development
processes.

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001) 27

Key features of the new legal framework will include:
* clarification of the rights of access for all Ugandans to all types of forests in the country;
* provision of a mechanism for the participation of all interested parties in forestry development
through clear legal agreements;
* new rules and regulations for forestry activities based on appropriate incentives and
disincentives, including licensing, pricing and penalties based on true economic valuations,
tree tenure and the use of Reserved Species on private and government land and forest
produce movement;
* a broad framework for the forest sector's co-ordination and planning;
* a legal basis for contractual or service agreements, competitive tendering, and partnership
agreements on forest management, including gender roles and equity in benefit-sharing;
* newly defined institutional roles and responsibilities in the forest sector;
* provision for Uganda's commitments to international conventions and protocols in the
forest sector;
* harmonization of the legislation on decentralised forest management, including the
classification of central and local forest reserves, and responsibilities between central and local
government for protection, regulation, licensing and revenue collection;
* guidance on the introduction of alien species;
* regulations on the import and export of forest produce and genetic materials.
F - Gender and Equity
Women, youth and poor people will be particular beneficiaries in the development of the
forest sector
The government will ensure that women, youth and poor people are particular beneficiaries in
the development of the forest sector. It recognises that there are sections of society that are often
marginalised in development processes, and that these groups are frequently the most dependent
on forest resources for their livelihoods.
The government will ensure the integration of gender concerns and issues into the development
of the forest sector. Strategies for implementing the Forestry Policy will specifically account for
gender differences in the perceptions and uses of forest products. This will include efforts to:
* increase security of tenure over forest resources for women and youth;
* encourage active participation of women and youth in decision-making, resource
management and sharing of benefits;
* promote changes in attitudes and organisational cultures, to break down gender barriers and
to provide mutual respect and dignity for all people irrespective of social group, gender or
background.
28
The government will also support poor people in the development of:
* skills and access to employment and livelihood opportunities;
* security of access to forest resources;
* active participation and sharing of benefits in forest management.
Given that the poorest of the poor living in forest areas are often so marginalised that they are
unlikely to be able to participate in any of these developments, special consideration will be
given to direct support in the form of revenue shares from forest management. These might be
provided as health, educational or other facilities funded from forest revenues.
G - International and Regional Co-operation
The government will participate fully in the development and implementation of international
obligations and cross-border co-operation agreements
Uganda has signed a number of international agreements that influence the forest sector and is
party to other non-legally binding instruments. The government will meet its obligations to these
agreements and instruments, through domestic legislation and action. Other agreements are in
the process of being developed. Uganda will participate fully in these developments where they
can help to meet national objectives.
Key agreements that affect the forest sector include obligations and opportunities:
* to conserve and manage unique areas (World Heritage Convention), wetlands (Ramsar
Convention) and biodiversity (Convention on Biological Diversity);
* to control the wildlife trade (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species);
* to combat the spread of deserts (Convention to Combat Desertification);
* to manage forests sustainably (International Tropical Timber Agreement);
* to store carbon through forestry (Framework Convention on Climate Change);
* to co-operate on trans-boundary forestry development (through the regional framework of the
East African Community);
* to seek fair trade arrangements for forest products (through the World Trade Organisation).
The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001)
 Well-defined information systems will be established, with reliable data on agreed indicators. All
H - Sector Monitoring and Evaluation forest sector investment programmes will set out plans for monitoring and evaluation, and
Implementation of the Forestry Policy will be monitored and regularly assessed. develop specific indicators to show progress and impact. The results of this sector monitoring and
evaluation will be published regularly in reports on the state of the forest sector.

The government will evaluate the impact of the institutional reforms and strategies developed
under the National Forest Plan. Impacts will be measured in terms of the following policy
performance indicators:
* the sustainable use of the resource base;
* the maintenance of vital ecological services and conservation of biodiversity;
* the growth of the economy in forest-related business, and;
* the alleviation of poverty amongst the rural and urban populations who depend on forests for
their livelihoods.

The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001) 29

30 | The Uganda Forestry Policy (2001) Photos by David Pluth